Welfare payments to rise 1.3 percent benefiting 1.6m HKers

Social security payments will increase by 1.3 percent starting February 1, benefiting about 1.6 million Hongkongers, the Social Welfare Department announced on Monday.

Under the adjusted Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, adjustment amounts for able-bodied recipients will range from HK$30 to HK$45. For families comprising three able-bodied adults/children, payments will increase from HK$2,900 to HK$2,940. 

Adjustments for elderly and non-able-bodied recipients will range from HK$50 to HK$95.

The Old Age Allowance, also known as "fruit money", will be raised by HK$20 to HK$1,640 from HK$1,620, while the Old Age Living Allowance will increase by HK$55 to HK$4,250, from HK$4,195.

A department spokesman said the Legislative Council Finance Committee approved the government’s upward rate adjustments on December 6 last year, in line with the established mechanism.

“Furthermore, taking into account the movement of the Consumer Price Index (A) rent index for private housing, the government will raise the maximum rent allowance under the CSSA Scheme by 0.2 percent, also with effect from February 1 this year,” the spokesman added.

The monthly allowance for a one-person household will increase from HK$2,515 to HK$2,520; for a two-person household, from HK$4,440 to 4,450; and for a household of six or more, from HK$7,800 to HK$7,815.

(Cheng Wong)